Record controlled embossing machine



Deco 12 1%@ J. H. GRUVER RECORD CONTROLLED EMBOSSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1947 J7? vemf'c r Jbfirz @raVer weya 12 18% J. H. GRUVER 9 RECORD CONTROLLED EMBOSSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 @mm 12, 19% J. H. GRUVER RECORD CONTROLLED EMBOSSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 1, 1947 Dace 112, .1959 J. H. @RUVER RECORD CONTROLLED EMBOSSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 1, 1947 mm, 12 1954) J. H. GRUVER RECORD CONTROLLED EMBOSSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 1, 1947 HIII MWMW nu n WK f .mfi Z w J. H. GRUVER RECORD CONTROLLED mossmc MACHINE been 12,, 11959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 1, 1947 Inventor v z/Zbnfi Graver w M! K fitorneyfi Patented Dec... 12, 1950 UNIT!) STATES TENT OF RICE RECORD CONTROLLED EMBOSSING MACHINE John H.-.Gruver, East Cleveland, Ohio,-.xassignor AddressographaMultigraph Corporation,

Wilmington, Del a. corporation of Delaware Application November 1, 1947,, Serial No; 783,588

12 Claims. (CIL-ltQ'T- -ZO) and the primary object of the present invention is to enable machines of the character therein shown to be readily and easily controlled by automatic record governed control means. Other objects related to the foregoing are to simplify the application of such automatic control means to such an embossing machine; to enable standard commercial tape reading or like mechanisms to be simply and easily related in an automatic controlling'relation to such anembossing machine; and to so relate such control mechanism to the embossing machine as to insure accurate and satisfactory operation of the unit as a whole.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the presentinvention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automatically controlled embossing machine embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view taken from another angle and showing-another portion of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a part of the mecha-' nism;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional-view illustrating themanner inwhich the reader unit ;nd the; embossing unit are interrelated by, the intermediate unit.

-Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary plan and ver-t.

tical sectional: views showing the mannenin which certain electrical controls are afforded;.

and

ing the control connections.

For purposes of disclosure the invention -.is herein illustrated as embodied inan automatically controlled embossing unit 351- comprising a key operated embossingmachine 53- with a tapereading unit iil operativelyirelated to. the-embossing machine so through an intermediate mechanical transmitting unit 45, and electrical-control connections that will hereinafter bedescribed. The -embossingmachine :55 .is of .the. construction shown-in my aforesaid copending: application wherein the embossing: .machinezifiiiembodies means for automatically feedingprinta. ing plates P from a magazine M and into position for performance ofthe desired embossing:

operations thereon, and for thereaiterautomatically discharging the completedprinting plates- P from the plate holding'carriage and into a collecting'mag-azine K, as shown-in Fig.- 1 'ofthe drawings. The-embossing machine embodies anupstanding frame 5 l carried on supporting legs" 56L,=--and along the forward edge of the frame 51 a keyboard 52 is afiorded having alphabetical and number keys 53, special control keys -54=; 55-and-5t-and a-space bar 51.

' The embossingimachine 5t has an upstanding hollow frame carriedon the bed 5! and aplu rality of character-forming punch and diepairs are carried Withinthis framein rotatable-car operation in respect toa-- printing plate-P'sup ported at-embossing-position by a carriage and cross slide structure' tiiA. This struoture, as disclosed inmyaforesaid copending application,

but not shown in detai-lherein, includes a longitudinally reciprocablecarriage 1 that is. springurged toward: therlght in Fig; l and is escapement controlled toattain an automatic character spacing movement to -the rig-htas an incident to each-embossing operation. In the following detailed description referenceis madeto certain elements by -use-of the reference characters used in--my aforesaid copending application,-and where'possible such=elements have been-identh' fiedin the-accompanying drawings so as'to en able the structureofthe prior application to be found in the 7 present drawings. The present Fig. '7 is av schematic wiring diagram: illustrat-.

drawings have been kept at the minimum consistent with a proper understanding of the invention. Thus, on the carriage 65, as thus shown in my aforesaid copending application, a cross slide is mounted for line spacing movement in a rearward direction, and this cross slide has a four-station indexing work holding turret H'I mounted thereon.

The carriage 65 is released so that it may move to the right to a loading position, and when the cross slide 10 is released so that it moves to its most forward position, the turret I I7 is disposed adjacent and in an operative relation with respect to the plate loading and unloading means. Thus, as described in my aforesaid copending application, a work ejecting arm may be moved to the rear to engage a completed plate P, and may then be returned in a forward direction to the position of Fig. 1 to thereby remove such plate from the turret I H and discharge the same into a chute I52 that leads downwardly to the packer mechanism I53 and the collecting magazine K. At the same time, a plate feed slide beneath the magazine M may be advanced to the left by means including a lever ZlO to feed a new plate P into another work holding position on the turret Ill.

The carriage 65 may then be returned to the left to an initial or starting position by means including a carriage return arm 31'! as described in my aforesaid copending application, and as an incident to this operation, a turret advancing lever I82 is rendered effective to cause indexing of the turret I ll.

The carriage return, plate loading and unloading operations, and the carriage return operation as thus described as well as the plate packing operation, the line spacing operation and the carriage release operation are all performed by power means, as set forth in my aforesaid copendin application, and such power means are driven from a main shaft 200 under selective control of a plurality of one revolution clutches such as the clutch 208 which drives the plate packer I53. Thus a clutch for operating the carriage return lever 3 l l is governed by a stop lever 2248, a clutch for operating the plate loading and unloading arms 2'50 and H5, is governed by a stop lever 2238, a clutch for operating the carriage release means is governed by a stop lever 222s, a clutch for operating the line space means is governed by a stop lever 22 is, while a stop lever 208s governs the packer clutch 208.

As described in my aforesaid copending application, the several clutches are provided with mechanical inter-connections so as to cause overlapping sequential operation in certain instances. Thus, upon completion of a particular printing plate P, Operation of the stop lever 222s causes the carriage release mechanism to function to not only release the carriage 65 for movement to the right, but also to release the cross slide 10 to cause forward return movement thereof, and when this mechanism has substantially completed its cycle, the stop lever 223$ is mechanically actuated so as to initiate operation of the plat loading and unloading means. When this operation has been substantially completed, the stop lever 20853 is mechanically operated so as to cause operation of the plate packer I53.

Another such mechanical inter-relation is effective when actuation of the stop lever 224$ causes operation of the carriage return means. When th carriage return movement is substantially complete, the stop lever ms is actuated so as to cause operation of the line spacing means,

and such means includes a cam 240, as shown in Fig. '7, which in its operation is effective on a mechanical transmitting lever 242 that operates the line space mechanism on the carriage 65.

The stop lever 22|S is arranged for operation by a solenoid 376, the stop lever 222s by a solenoid 310, and the stop lever 225s by a solenoid 312, as described in my aforesaid copending application, and the other two stop levers 2088 and 223s are in every instance mechanically actuated in the sequence and relation described in such copending application.

In the foregoing description the various structural elements of the embossing machine 50 have been identified by the same reference characters as in my aforesaid copending application so as to thereby simplify cross reference, and the relationship of these elements to the reader unit and the intermediate unit will now be described.

Th record reading unit 10 that is utilized is a slightly modified commercially available unit de signed and usually used to control linecasting and composing machines and made by Teletype Corportion of Chicago, Illinois. This unit is of substantially the construction shown in Walden Patent No. 2,006,848, patented July 2, 1935, Gaety et a1. Patent No. 2,006,860, patented July 2, 1935, Theieneniann Patent No. 2,060,838, patented November 17, 1936, and Krum et a1. Patent No. 2,091,286, patented August 31, 1937. The reading unit that is thus afforded has a relatively rigid base plate -200 having upstanding end frames WI and 602 at opposite ends thereof, and rearwardly Opening slots 403 and 40 formed in each of the end frame members 401 and 402 enable these frame members to be engaged with suitable supporting elements as will hereinafter be described. At its right hand end the base plate 400 has a supplemental mounting platform 400A upon which driving and control means are supported. Thus tape sensing station S is afforded through which a perforated tape bearing ceded data may be fed in a step by step manner as set forth in the aforesaid patents. The tape feeding and sensing means are driven from a motor Ml through a one-revolution clutch 405 which acts in each engaged cycle thereof to drive the tape feeding and sensing means, and th mechanism controlled thereby, through a single cycle of operation. As explained in the aforesaid patents, the sensing means at sensing station S are effective to control setting movement of a plurality of code bars 401 so that in each cycle, the code bars 40'! cause actuation of a selected one of a plurality of operating rockers 4%0. These operating rockers M0 ar generally T-shaped in form and are pivoted in a spaced side by side relation along a mounting shaft 4 that extends between the end frames 4M and $82 adjacent the forward upper edge thereof as shown in Fig. 4. The rockers H0 each have a forwardly projecting arm ll 0A to which a return spring H2 is attached to urge the parts to the normal position of Fig. 4, while a downwardly projecting arm M03 is afforded to which the actuating force is applied under control of the code bars 501 to rock the selected rocker M0 in a clockwise direction against the force of the spring M2. A third arm 5150 projects rearwardly at a level just above the shaft Al I, and it is this arm M00 that is utilized in applying the movement of the roclrer to a part to be actuated.

The clutch 405 has a normally effective stop lever 405s associated therewith as shown in Fig. 7, this stop lever corresponding in form and function with the stop lever I01 of the aforesaid 3 Walden patent, and .when this stop leven 4B5Ssis tube momentarily released. so as to :cause a one cycle operation of the clutch, a solenoid 415, Fig. 7, is energized, as will hereinafter bedescribed.

Inattaining the desiredcontrol of the clutch solenoid 4.!5, a .shaftAtB shown. in. the aforesaid Krum et a1. Patent No. 2,091,286, is replacedby a controlshaft- 4H5, and a spring. 4!!acting ona disk: 4|8; fixed on the shaft M6, normally urges the. shaft in. a. counter-clockwise direction -'to the position shown in Figs. 2iand- 7. -The shaft M6 has a. lever. 14.29. fixed on its forward end, and whenthe machine is to be started, the lever 42il is moved in. a clockwise direction through substantially ninetydegrees until a latch: lever 42! hastooth. 42!! thereof engaged with anotch; 422 inthe disk H8. When theshaft- 4i6 is in its latched position. a lever: M9, Fig. '7, that fixed on the shaft H6, is displaced from: the position shownin Fig. 7, so. as to thereby free the stop lever 4858 for releasing operation by its solenoid H5. .The lever M9 corresponds to the lever 269: of the aforesaid Krum et 'al. patent, and when the shaft M5 is unlatched a roller on the lever I9 engages a cam surface 4|9A on the stop lever 4.05s, thereby to lock the stop: lever as described in the Krum et a1. patent. Thelatch 42!,v may be released, as will hereinafter be described, by a solenoid 423 that is connected by a rodv 423R to the left hand end of the latch 42! soas to act against the spring 4238 which urges the latch 42!. to its effective position. A manual release button 42'! mounted on the right hand side of the. intermediate unit 45, Fig. 2, is arranged so that the lower end of its stem 428* overlies the left end of the latch 42!, and this button may be manually actuated to release the latch 42!, thereby to cause the control shaft 416 to return to its initial position of Figs. land 7.

The control shaft M6 is utilized ininitiating a" tape-reading operation of the reading unit, and while its functioning in this regard willhereinafter be described in detail, it may here be pointed out that an arm 425' pivoted at 426 on the disk 4 8is normally urged in a counter-clock w-ise direction-by a spring 421A to the position-determined by a pin 425P on the disk. When the control shaft 4H1 is moved clockwise to its latched position the arm 425 passes over and momentarily closes a control switch 430 which energizes the clutch solenoid 4!5 as-willher'einafter be described in detail, thereby to advance the tape to its next position at sensing station S and cause automatic machine operation as' will bedescribed. In its return movement "when" the shaft M6 is unlatched, the lever arm'425 passes yieldingly over the switch 430 without closing the switch.

The setting of the control shaft -4!'6 in its latched position also shifts a pin 432 on 'thedi'sk of control switches 44!, 442, 443, 444 and-445 shown in Fig. '7, and arranged for closure by cer-- tain of the rockers 4!!) in the manner shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Thus all of these switches-are mounted as shown in Figs. 1 and-4 to 6 on the topof a mounting bracket 446 which is extended between the end frames 40! and .442. The

switches-44l to- 445 are of the normally-open,-

plunger-operatedi type, i and asshown in Fig; 6,- the switch 4'43 .has a plunger 443P extended up-" wardly from-thebody of the switch. Actuating arms 44 !A-to 445A are afforded for-the respective 5 switches! to-445, and these arms are-pivotally supported onshafts 44'! which -arein turn mounted in 'upstanding ears- 448 fixed on the bracket 446. .Eacharm-MIA to- 445A-hasa resilient arm 449- which bears on the related switch 102 plunger, asishown in Fig. 6, so as to enable counter-clockwiserocking movement of the arma-to resiliently actuate the related switchplunger. The armsMIA to 445A are extended downwardly and havehorizontal forward ends 450 that are disposed beneath selected rockers 4!!! so that the arms 44 iAto 445A may be actuated thereby.

3 Under the present invention. the reader unit 40 that is thus=affordedmay readily and easily be-associated-with the embossing unit 50-by means of the intermediate unit 45, which as shown-in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, is permanently-associated: with the embossing unit 50 and is adapted for-detachable operative association with the reader-unit 40. Thus the intermediate unit' 45 e'comprises-apair of rigid supporting tubes 46!! extended horizontallythrough the right and left hand pairsof legs 50L. and forwardly from the front legs-beneath the opposite edgesof the keyboard 52 and-somewhat beyond the forward-edge 3020f .thekeyboard. On and. encircling. each tube 460 a pair of spaced downwardly projecting blocks 4Btand-462 are-mounted, the block 46! being 'disp'os-ed-just forwardly of the forward leg 5flL in which the tube ismounted; while the block 354462 is disposed near the f-orwardend of the tube.

The-blocks! and 462 on each tube are-held in a spaced relation corresponding substantially to the spacing of the ends of the slots 403 and 404,-- and this is accomplished by topplates14B3 4 3 secured by screws- 464 to thetops of the respective blocks Mil-and. 432. Set: screws. 4555 extended through. the plates-463 and: the blocks 46!: and

462 engage the tubes 46!) to hold the sets of blocks in position thereon.

The lower endsof the blocks 46! have a support -rod 46'! extended therethrough so -as to project" at its opposite ends beyond the blocks 46!, and screws 468 secure the rod 461. in: position in the' blocks 46!. A similar rod 459 is si'milarly'mounted. and secured in the lowerends of-the blocks 462. The projecting ends of the rods 46'! and4t9 may thus be engaged by the slots 483.. and 444 of the end frames 46! and 482 of the reader unit 40, such movement involving 55: an i'nitial upward movement of the reader unit40 todispose-the rear-ends of the slots fit. and 444 horizontally opposite the respective rods46'! and 469, and subsequent rearward movement of the unit'4il to locate'the' slots-433 and 444 in an embracing relation with respect to the rods 45l and 459. -A retaining screw-41!), Fig. 1, is then put inposition in the frame 48!, and a block 41!,- Figs 2, is secured in place by screws or the like on the frame 4&2 so as to engage the rod 459 5 and therebyhold the unit 48 in place on the supporting rods.

When the reader unit 4:) is thus supported in position, therockers 4!!! thereof are operativelyrelated to motion transmitting mechanism form- 7o'z'ing part of the intermediate unit 45 and by means of which the motion of any selected rocker 4-H! is transmitted to the related key-53 or the like so as to'actuate the same and'cause correspondingoperation of the related mechanism or 7 .the aembossing 'machine -50. =In- -affording ---a mounting for such motion transmitting means a carrier 475 is shiftably mounted forwardly of the block 462. This carrier 415 comprises an elongated mounting plate 476 disposed in a vertical plane and having its opposite ends disposed opposite the open forward ends of the support tubes 460. At such opposite ends, mounting rods 41'! are fixed to the plate 478 so as to extend rearwardly and with a snug sliding fit into the forward ends of the tubes 460. The rods 4?"! may be held in their forward position of Fig. 4 by lock screws 4'18 extended downwardly through the tubes 450 and entering tapped positioning bores formed radially at accurately located points in the rods 4'l'i. Clearance or access slots 419 are formed in the plates 483 to enable the screws 418 to be released or tightened as required. On its forward face, and near the ends thereof, the mounting plate 478 has a pair of angle brackets 488 secured in fixed position, and each of these brackets 488 carries an arm 48! that extends forwardly and downwardly therefrom. In attaining such mounting of the arms 48!, each arm 48| has an inclined but generally vertical slot 482 formed therein near its upper end. A pair of screws 483 and 484 are passed through the slot 482 at and in engagement with opposite ends thereof, and these screws are threaded into the forwardly projecting flange of the adjacent angle bracket 489 so as to thereby rigidly clamp the arm 48! to such bracket.

Between the lower ends of the arms 48f, a pivot shaft 485 is extended and this shaft serves as a pivot for the forward ends of a plurality of transmitting levers 488. One such lever 488 is afforded for each key 53 that is to be actuated, and each such lever 488 is so disposed along the shaft 485 that its rear end is located substantially beneath the lever 498 which carries the key 53 with which it is to be associated. Thus, at the rear end of each such transmitting lever 488, the lower end of a connecting link 482 is pivoted at 498, Fig. 4, and the upper end of the link 492 has a return bend hook 4921-1 formed thereon which extends around the related key lever 498. This enables downward movement of the link 492 to actuate the connected key 53 while at the same time allowing the key to be manually actuated when this is necessary.

In order that ample clearance may be afforded for the desired movements of the levers 488 with respect to the rod 469, and to simplify the guiding thereof, the levers 488 have the end portions thereof formed as arcuate arms 4888 and 488R, Fig. 4, and thus the relatively straight intermediate portions thereof are disposed in upwardly spaced relation with respect to the rod 469. Moreover, the straight portions of the levers 488 are disposed between the downwardly extending teeth of a comb plate 484 which is disposed in a vertical plane rearwardly of the rear faces of the blocks 482. Means such as screws 495 secure the comb plate 494 in position on the rear faces of the blocks 482.

The transmitting levers 488 are arranged to be yieldingly connected to and actuated by the related rockers 418 and for this purpose each lever 488 has a hook lever 488 mounted at one side thereof. Such hook lever 498 is pivoted on the shaft 485 beside its related lever 488 and extends rearwardly in the same general form for some distance. The hook lever 498 then has an upward projection 498A that extends between the teeth of a guiding comb bar 498 which is secured by screws 499 to the forward faces of the blocks 462. An arcuate slot 500 in the lever 498 is centered on the shaft 485 and a headed guide pin 50! extends through the slot 584 and being fixed in the related transmitting lever 488 serves to hold these members together laterally while at the same time allowing some lost motion there'oetween.

Each hook lever 498 has a downwardly and rearwardly extended rear end 496R and a coiled tension spring 502 is extended upwardly therefrom and connected to the related lever 488. Thus any downward rocking movement of the hook lever 49!; is yieldingly transmitted to the lever 488 so as to actuate the connected key 53. To enable the hook lever 496 to be thus actuated, the portion 496R has a hook portion 496H extended forwardly therefrom into position be-- neath the forward end of the rocker arm 410C of the related rocker.

It will be observed that adequate clearance is provided for the movements of the levers 488 since the switches 44! to 445 are mounted in groups disposed beyond the end edges of the keyboard 52, as will be evident with respect to the switch 44! in Fig. l.

The mounting and arrangement of the transmitting and hook levers 488 and 498 and their relation to the keys 53 serves to materially simplify the assembly and disassembly of the reader unit 48 with respect to the embossing machine. Thus when the reader unit 48 is to be removed, the set screws 418 are loosened, and the carrier 475 is moved rearwardly till the plate .78 engages the forward ends of the mounting tubes 488. This serves to move the hook elements 48831 rearwardly of the arms 4980 of the rockers, and it will be observed that in this movement the links 492 may pivot at their upper ends with respect to the key levers 498, and at their lower ends by reason of their pivotal connection 493 with the levers 488. Then, in order to afford clearance for the forward withdrawal of the reader unit 49, and particularly to clear the rockers 4), the shaft 485 is raised by loosenin the supporting arms 48!. Thus the lower screw 484 is removed from each arm 485, and each screw 483 is unclamped. The shaft 485 is then elevated until the lower ends of the slots 482 engage the screws 483, and the screws 483 are then clamped. The upward movement of the hook elements 496E is permitted in this instance by cutting away the bottom portion of the rod 488, as indicated at 488C in Fig. 6. Moreover, the spacing of the rear edges of the arms 453i with respect to the front face of the plate 4'58, enables the upward movement of the arms 48f to take place despite the angular position of the slots 482. The upward movement of the shaft 485 disposes this shaft 485 and the bearing portions of the levers 488 and 498 above the level of the rockers m, and hence upon removal of the retaining screw 4'10 and the retaining block 4H, the reader unit may readily be removed. The mounting of the unit 48 may, of course, be readily accomplished by reversal of the foregoing sequence of operations.

The operation of the reader unit in each reading cycle serves, as hereinbefore described, to actuate the selected one of the rockers 4i8, and this serves through the levers 488 and 488 to mechanically actuate the selected or related key 53 and thereby cause the embossing unit to operate through an embossing cycle. With respect to the space bar 57, however, a solenoid 5 l 8, Figs. 2 and 7, is provided which is mounted by means of a bracket 5 on the comb bar 494 as shown aesswcc irrFlg: 2'; The armature-of the solenoid 'l6has a. hook-shaped link 512 extended upwardly therefrom and hooked over one of'the arms sets which: support the spacebar 51:, and hence when the solenoid. 5161senergized, the space bar 51 is actuated to cause character spacing of the carriageof the embossing unit. Such energization otrthesolenoid 51 6 is eifected under control of the switch 445 that is, in turn, closed by the reader unit 46 in response to the sensing of a character spacing indication on the control tape or: the like. 1

InLFig; '1 of the drawings the controlling interrelationof the. elements of the intermediate unit, the embossing unit and. the reader unit has been schematically illustrated; Thus the powerfor the various electrically operated control elementsis supplied by power lines LI and L2, the lineLZ being connected by a wire 52!] and branch leads 521, 522, 523, 524 and 525 to one contact of each ofthe" respective switches 441 to 445. A wire 536 is extended from the line wire LI and branch leads 531 to 533' from the wire 530' are extended t'o one terminal of each of the respective solenoids 31-2; 310 and-316. From theother terminals of the respective solenoids 312; 3-16 and 316, wires 534;- 535 and 536 are extended to-the other contactsof the respective switches 44!, 442' and 443 so as to place these solenoids under the control of the switches with which they are thus associated. The other contact of'thecharacterspace switch 445' is connected by a wire 531 to one terminal' of the character spacing solenoid- 5H2, the other terminal thereof-being connected by awire 55'8 to the wire 536, and thus the solenoid 515 is placed under the control of theswitch 445i The other switch 444' is what has been termed the rub-out switch, sinceit is actuated in response to-the sensing of a code indication which includes all of the index positions of the" code that" is employed in the control tape or the like. This rub-out code is formed when a mistake-has been made in the tape perforation, and in response to such rub-out code it is merely desirable to advance the tape to another character position with respect to the sensing station S of the reader unit 40. The switch 444 is therefore arranged to close an energizing circuit for the clutch control solenoid 4E5, as will now be described in connection with the description or the other circuits that perform a similar function.

Thus, one terminal of the solenoid 415 is connected by a wire 54!! to the line wire Ll, while wires 545; 546, 541, 548 and 549 in series extendto the other contact of the rub-out switch 4441 AZ. similar energization of the clutch solenoid 415 maybe attained by closure of" the switch 436 when this, switch is momentarily closed in the course of a movement of the control shaft 416 to its'lat'ched position. Thus, wires 556 and 55% extend in series from the line wire L2 to one contact of the switch 436 while a wire 552 extends from the other contact of the switch 436 to the wire 546-which through the wire 545 is connected to one terminal of the clutch solenoid 415.

Similar circuits are closed to the clutch solenoid 415- when a line spacing operation, a character" spacing operation, a: plate feeding and ejecting operation, or an embossing operation has been completed. Thus a switch 555 is arranged to beclosed by a pin 556 carried on the link-5P2 whenever the solenoid 516 isoperated to cause a character space operation. One contact of the switch 555* is connected by wires 551 and 558 in series with the wire 520, whilewires 559' 10 and 561i extendv in series from the other contact of the switch 555 to the wire 545.

In attaining the desired energization of theclutch solenoid 415 after a line space operation, use is made of the line space cam 246 of my aforesaid copending application, which as thereshown, operates on a roller 24! to actuate a lever 242. After the lobe 246A of such cam has fully actuated the lever 242, the lobe is arranged to engage and close a switch 563', and one contact" of this switch is connected by'a wire 564 tothe wire 526 while the other contact is connected by a wire 565'to the wire 541 so as to thereby afford another parallel energizing circuit for the clutch solenoid 415..

With respect" to the plate feeding and ejecting operations, a circuit is provided which is closed only when both such operations have been com-- pleted. Thus anormally open switch 566 isar ranged to be closed by a. pin 561 carried: on a switch operating-lever 568, Figs. 1 and: 7, this lever being pivoted at 569 on the mounting plate I11 of theembossing machine shown in my aforesaid copending application. The lever 568 is spring biased rearwardly, and an upstanding car 516' on the lever 568 is disposed in the path of a guide element on the ejectin lever I15", and the arrangement is such that when the lever 1'15 has completed an ejecting stroke, the switch 566 is closed. Another normally open switch 516 is mounted adjacent t'o-the plate feed lever 216 of the embossing machine, and a one-way pawl 511 carried on the lever 216 is arranged to engage and close the switch 516 as the lever 210 approaches its home position in the return or clock- Wise rocking movement thereof. One contact of the switch 516 is connected by a wire 518 to the wire 548, while a wire 516' connects the other contact of the switch 516 to one contact of" the switch 566. The other contact of the switch 566 is connected by; a wire 580' to the wire 526, so that when the switches 566 and 516 are both closed, the clutch solenoid 4l'5 will be energized to institute another cycle of the reading unit.

When akey' 53 has been actuated, a similar circuit to. the clutch solenoid 415 is closed at substantially the end of the embossing cycle. Inv attaining this operation, use is made of the key restoring meansdisclosed in Duncan et al.

Patent No. 1,831,103, patented November 10, ,193 1 Such mechanism is included in the embossing machine 56. and,ras shown in Fig. '7, comprises a. rocker 565 corresponding to the rocker l20 o the aforesaid Duncan et a1. patent. Near the end, of an embossing cycle the. rocker 585- is" actuated in a counterclockwise direction by a. link 5.8.6,. as described in said Duncan et al'. patent,.so as toiact ona key restoring rocker 581 to lift or. restore, the key 53'that has been. depressed, andthe counterclockwise, rocking move:- ment of the rocker 585isutilized to close a switch 5.66. Thus a screw 59:1. in a forwardly projecting, arm oithe' rocker 585-is arranged to. engageand closev the switch 596 when the rocker 58.5, is actuated; and upon such switch closure therclutch. solenoid 415 is energized. The necessary circuit, is provided; by connecting the opposed, contacts, of; the: switch 596 to. the wires 558- and 560, re-- spectively, by: wires 595 and 594.

Safetycircuits are provided for stopping: the sachine: when the-supply of control tape, or the supply: of blank. printing plates P' has: beenv ex hausted', and for this. purpose; conventional sensing switches are ailorded in: connection. withthe sensing station S and the supply magazine M. These switches are shown in Fig. 7 as switches 600 and 6'35, and a wire 603 and branches Kidd and GGEA connect the wire 550 to one contact of each of these switches. A wire 6G5 and branches 9356 and 68] extend from one terminal of the stop solenoid 423 to the other contacts of the respective switches 509 and Bill. The other terminal of the solenoid 423 is connected by a wire 608 to one contact of the switch 434, while a wire 689 extends from the other contact of the switch 435 to the line wire Li. Thus when conditioned by closure of the switch 534, either of the safety switches 60!} or 60| may, when closed, cause energization of the stop solenoid 423 so as to thereby unlatch the control shaft M5.

When the control shaft 416 is thus unlatched, the counterclockwise movement of the arm M9 engages the cam surface 9A so as to thereby prevent actuation of the stop lever tees to its released position. Operation of the machine is thereby stopped, and will not be resumed until the control shaft M6 is again shifted to its latched position.

' The driving motors of the embossing unit 59 and the reader unit 40 are controlled by a common main switch SID, Fig. 2, and appropriate plug connections are afforded in a conventional manner to enable ready separation of the units as hereinabove described.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the present invention enables automatic control of an embossing machine to be readily and easily attained, and that the present invention simplifies the association of an automatic record reading control mechanism with an embossing machine. Moreover, the present invention enables a commercially available record reading and control mechanism to be utilized with but few changes of structure, thereby to simplify the problem of affording an automatically controlled embossing machine for printing plates and the like.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the followin claims.

I claim:

1. In an automatic record controlled embossing machine, an embossing unit having a plurality of settable pairs of punches and dies, power operated plate handling means including means for loading and unloading printing plates, character spacing means and power operated line spacing means for imparting movements to such plates with respect to an embossing position in the machine, and control means including a space bar for controlling said character spacing means and a plurality of control keys for selectively setting and causing embossing operation of said pairs of punches and dies, a record controlled governing unit including a plurality of rockers allocated one to each key of said machine and one to said space bar and one to each of said power operated means, a single cyc e drive means for said governing unit, a record reading means operable in each such cycle to read a predetermined portion of a record, and means responsive to such reading means to actuate said rockers selectively, and an intermediate unit having a plurality of transmitting levers allocated to the respective keys of said machine and each having a transmitting link connected to the key to which such lever is allocated, a hook element for each such lever having a yielding lost motion connection with its lever for actuating the same, each of said hook elements being operatively engaged with the related one of said rockers for actuation thereby, control connections between said power operated means, said space bar and the respective rockers allocated thereto, control means for said single cycle drive means of said governing unit for initiating a single cycle of operation thereof, and means for governing said last mentioned control means and operable by either said plate loading means, said line spacing means, or said space bar or as an incident to release of any one of said keys to cause operation of said single cycle drive means of said governing unit.

2. In an automatic record controlled embossing machine, an embossing unit having a plurality of settable pairs of punches and dies, power operated plate handling means including means for loading and unloading printing plates, power operated line spacing means, electrically actuated control means for the respective power operated means, electrically actuated character spacing means, and control means including a plurality of control keys for selectively setting and causing embossing operation of said pairs of punches and dies, a record controlled governing unit including a plurality of rockers allocated one to each key of said machine and also having other rockers allocated one to each of said electrically actuated control means and to said electrically actuated character spacing means, a single cycle drive means for said governing unit, a record reading means operable in each such cycle to read a predetermined portion of a record, and means responsive to such reading means to actuate said rockers selectively, and an intermediate unit having a plurality of transmitting levers allocated to the respective keys of said machine and each having a transmitting link connected to the key to which such lever is allocated, a hook element for each such lever having a yielding lost motion connection with its lever for actuating the same. said hook elements being operatively engaged with the related ones of said rockers for actua tion thereby, individual switch means operable selectively by said other rockers and having energizing circuits associated respectively therewith to selectively energize said electrically actuated means, electrically operable control means for said single cycle drive means of said governing unit for initiating a single cycle of operation thereof, and means including energizing circuits for governing said last mentioned electrically operated control means and operable by either said plate loading means, said line spacing means, said character spacing means or as in incident to release of any one of said keys to cause operation of said single cycle drive means of said governing unit.

3. In an automatic record controlled embossing machine, an embossing unit having a plurality of settable pairs of punches and dies, power operated plate handling means including means for loading and unloading printing plates, power operated line spacing means, eectrically actuated control means for the respective power operated means, electrically actuated character spacing means, and control-means includng a plurality of control keys for selectively setting and causing embossing operation of said pairs of punches and dies, a record controlled governing unit including acaaaee a; plurality of. rockersallocated one to" each key of said: machine and. also having other rockers allocated one to each of said electrically actuated control means and to said electrically actuated character spacing means, a singlev cycle drive means for said governing, unit, a record reading means operable in each such cycle to read a predetermined portion of a record, and means responsive to such reading means to actuate said rockers selectively, and an intermediate unit having. a plurality of transmitting levers allocated to the respective keys of said machine and each having: a transmitting link connected to the key to which suchlever. is allocated,.ahook element for each such lever having a yielding lost motion connection. with its lever for. actuating; the same, said, hook elements being operatively engaged with the: related ones of. said. rockers for actuationl thereby, individual switch means operable selectively by said other. rockers and having energizing circuits associated respectively therewith to. selectively energize said electricallyactuatedmeans, electrieally'operable control means for. said single cycle drive means. of said governing unit for initiating a single cycle of operation thereof, means including energizing. circuits for governing said. last mentioned. electrically operated control means and; operable by either said plate loading means, said line spacing means, said character spacing means or as an incident to release of' any one of said keys to cause operation of said single cycle drive means of said governing unit,,and another switcharranged for closure by still. another one of said rockers and having.- a. control. circuit governing said last mentioned electrically operated control means.

. 4. In an automatic record controlled embossing machine, an embossing unit having a plurality of settable pairs of punches and dies, a plurality of power operated plate handling and shil ling means, and control means including a plurality of control keys for selectively setting and causing embossing. operation of said pairs of punches and dies, a record controlled governing unit including a plurality of rockers allocated one to-each key of said machine and one toeach of said power operated means, single cycle drive means for said governing unit, a record reading means operable in each such cycle to read. a predetermined portion of a record, and means responsive to such reading means to actuate said rockers selectively, and an intermediate unit having a plurality of transmitting levers allocated to the respective keys of said machine and each having a transmitting link connected to the key to which suchleverisi allocated, a hook element for each such lever. hav ing a yielding lost motion connection with its lever for actuating the same, each of said hook elements being operatively engaged with the related one of said rockers for actuation thereby; control connections between said power oper ated means and the respective rockers allocated thereto,.control means for said single cycle drive means of said governing unit for initiating a single cycle of operation thereof, and means for governing said last mentioned control means and operable by any one of said power. operated means as an incident to completionof an operation thereof to cause operation of said single cycle drive means of said governing unit.

5. In an automatic record controlled embossing machine, an embossing uni-t having a. pin. rality of settable pairs of punches dies, a plurality Qt electrically controlled. power oper 14 ated plate handling and shifting means, and. a; plurality of control. keys for selectively setting and causing embossing operation of said pairs. of

punches. and dies, a record. controlled governing:

unit including a plurality of rockers. allocated onesto eachi key of said embossing unit and also:

having other rockers allocated one to each of said electrically controlled means, a singlecycle drive means for said governing unit, a record reading means operable in each such cycle to.

read a predetermined portion of a record, and;

means responsive tosuch reading means. to actuate said rockers, selectively, and an intermediate unit having a plurality of transmitting levers allocated. to. the respective leys of said; machine and each having a, transmitting link connected tothe key to which such lever is allocated,.a hook element for each such. lever having a yielding lost motion connection with its lever iorv actuating the same, said hook elements be' ing, operatively engaged with the related ones of. said rockers for actuation thereby, individual switch means. operable selectively by said other rockers and having energized circuits associated respectively therewith said-t electrically controlled means, electrically to selectively energize operable control means for said single cycle drive means of said governing unit for initiating a singlecycle of operation thereof, and means including energizing circuits for governing said last mentioned electrically operated control means and operable by any one of said power operated means to cause operation of said single cycle drive-meansof said governing unit.

5. In an automatic record controlled emboss ing machine, an embossing machine having a plurality of settable pairs of punches and dies, a magazine for containing a supply of printing plates, power operated plate handling means including means for loading and unloading printing plates, character spacing means and power" operated line spacing means for imparting movements to such plates with respect to an embossing position in the machine, and control including a space bar for controlling said character spacing means and a plurality of control keys for selectively setting said pairs of punches and dies, a record controlled governing unit including a plurality of selectively operable. actuators operatively' associated with the respective keys and said space bar and with each of said power operated means, a single cycle drive means for said unit, a record reading.

means operable ineach such cycle to read a predetermined portion oi. a record, and means responsive to such reading means to operate said actuators selectively, control means for said single cycle drive means of said governing unit. for initiating a single cycle of operationthereof, means for governing said control. means and operable by either said. plate. loading means, said line spacing means, said space bar or as an incident to release of any one of said keys to cause operation of said single cycle drive means of said-governing unit, a control shaft normally disposed in a stop position and having. meansassociated therewith operable in said stop posi tion. of. said shaft to disable said singlecycle drive means, means for latchingv said shaft in a start position, means operable as an incident to shifting of said shaft from said stop position to said start position to cause operation of. said singlecycle drivemeans, and means operablein response to 'lackot a supply of printing plates to 15 release said latch means so as to cause return of said control shaft to its stop position.

'7. In an automatic record controlled embossing machine, an embossing machine having a plurality of settable pairs of punches and dies, a magazine for holding a supply of printing plates, power operated plate handling means including means for loading and unloading printing plates, character spacing means and power operated line spacing means for imparting movements to such plates with respect to an embossing position in the machine, and control means including a space bar for controlling said character spacing means and a plurality of control keys for selectively setting said pairs of punches and dies, a record controlled governing unit including a plurality of actuators allocated and operatively associated one to each key of said machine and one to said space bar and one to each of said power operated means, a single cycle drive means for said governing unit, a record reading means operable in each such cycle to read a predetermined portion of a record, and means responsive to such reading means to operate said actuators selectively, control means for said single cycle drive means of said governing unit for initiating a single cycle of operation thereof, means for governing said control means and operable by either said plate loading means, said line spacing means, said space bar or as an incident to release of any one of said keys to cause operation of said single cycle drive means of said governing unit, a control element shiftable between a normal stop position and a start position, means operable by said control element as it is shifted to said start position to cause operation of said single cycle drive means, means associated with said control element and operable in the stop position of said control element to disable said single cycle drive means, sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of a supply of printing plates in said magazine, means operable by said control element to render said sensing means eiiective when said control element is in said smart position and to disable said sensing means when said control element is in stop position, a latch for holding said control element in said start position, and means governed by said sensing means and operable when a lack of printing plates is sensed in said magazine to release said latch.

8. An intermediate unit for enabling a code reading and translating unit having a plurality of selectively operable actuating rockers to be operatively associated with a key-operated embossing machine in which a main frame has a forwardly projecting keyboard, said intermediate unit comprising a pair of supporting members adapted to project stationarily, and in a forward direction, from the main frame of such an embossing machine and beneath opposite side edges of the keyboard thereof, downwardly extended supporting elements carried by the projecting portions of said members and adapted to engage such a code reading and translating unit in a supporting relation thereto, a horizontal pivot shaft disposed forwardly and downwardly with respect to the forward ends of said members, means supporting said pivot shaft for rearward movement and subsequent upward movement from a lower forward position to an upper rear position, means for releasably securing said pivot shaft in either of said positions, a plurality of transmitting levers and a plurality of hook levers pivoted at their forward ends on said pivot shaft and extended rearwardly therefrom, said hook levers having hook elements extended downwardly at a point intermediate the ends of said transmitting levers and then forwardly, said levers being arranged in pairs each having one transmitting lever and one hook lever, means afiording a yielding lost motion connection of limited range between the levers of each pair, and a plurality of transmitting links pivotally connected at their lower ends to the rear ends of the respective transmitting levers and having reversely bent hooks at their other ends for operative engagement with the respective keys of such a keyboard.

9. An, intermediate unit for enabling a code reading and translating unit having a plurality of selectively operable actuating rockers to be operatively associated with a key-operated embossing machine in which a main frame has a forwardly projecting keyboard, said intermediate unit comprising a pair of elongated mounting members adapted to project stationarily, and in a forward direction, from the main frame of such an embossing machine and beneath opposite side edges of the keyboard thereof, downwardly extended elements carried by the projecting portions of said members and having engaging parts thereon adapted to engage a code reading and translating unit in a supporting relation, a carrier extended across and in front of the forward ends of said members and having rearwardly extended support members fixed thereto and slidably related to the forward end portions of the respective mounting members, means acting between said mounting members and said support members for releasably securing said carrier in a forward position, a horizontal pivot shaft mounted in a suspended relation on said carrier for movement between a lower operating position and an upper retracted position, means for securing said pivot shaft in ei ther of said positions, a plurality of transmitting levers pivoted at their forward ends on said pivot shaft and extended rearwardly therefrom, hook elements associated with medial portions of said levers and extended downwardly therefrom and then forwardly, and a plurality of transmitting links pivotally connected at their lower ends to the rear ends of the respective transmitting levers and having reversely bent hooks at their other ends for operative engagement with the respective keys of such a keyboard.

10. An intermediate unit for enabling a code reading and translating unit having a plurality of selectively operable actuating rockers to be operatively associated with a key-operated embossing machine in which a main frame has a forwardly projecting keyboard, said intermediate unit comprising a pair of supporting tubes adapted to project stationarily, and in a forward direction, from the main frame of such an embossing machine and beneath opposite side edges of the keyboard thereof, supporting means carried by and extended downwardly from the projecting portions of said tubes for supporting engagement with a code reading and translating unit, a carrier extended across and in front of the forward ends of said tubes and having stub shafts fixed thereto and extended slidably into the forward ends of said tubes, means for releasably securing said carrier in a forward position, a horizontal pivot shaft mounted in a suspended relation on said carrier for movement between a lower operating position and an upper retracted position, means for securing said pivot shaft in either of said positions, a plurality of transmitting levers pivoted at their forward ends on said pivot shaft and extended rearwardly therefrom, hook elements having a lost motion connection with the respective levers and extended downwardly from an intermediate point along said levers and then forwardly, and a plurality of transmitting links pivotally connected at their lower ends to the rear ends of the respective transmitting levers and having reversely bent hooks at their other ends for operative engagement with the respective keys of such a keyboard.

11. An intermediate unit whereby a code reading and translating unit having a plurality of selectively operable actuating rockers may be operatively associated with a key-operated embossing machine in which a main frame has a forwardly projecting keyboard, said intermediate unit comprising a pair of supporting tubes adapted to pro- J'ect stationarily, and in a forward direction, from the main frame of such an embossing machine and beneath opposite side edges of the keyboard thereof, supporting elements carried by the projecting portions of said tubes and extended downwardly therefrom for supporting engagement with such a code reading and translating unit, a carrier extended across and in front of the forward ends of said tubes and having stub shafts fixed thereto and extended slidably into the forward ends of said tubes, means for releasably securing said carrier in a forward position, a horizontal pivot shaft mounted forwardly of and in a suspended relation on said carrier for movement between a lower operating position and an upper retracted position, means for securing said pivot shaft in either of said positions, a plurality of transmitting levers and a plurality of hook levers pivoted at their forward ends on said pivot shaft and extended rearwardly therefrom, said hook levers having hook elements at their rear ends extended downwardly and then forwardly, said levers being arranged in pairs each having one transmitting lever and one hook lever, means affording a yielding lost motion connection of limited range between th levers of each pair, and a plurality of transmitting links pivotally connected at their lower ends to the rear ends of the respective transmitting levers and having reversely bent hooks at their other ends for operative engagement with the respective keys of such a keyboard.

12. An intermediate unit whereby a code readmg and translating unit having a plurality of selectively operable actuating rockers may be operatively associated with a key-operated embossing machine in which a main frame has a forwardly projecting keyboard, said intermediate unit comprising a pair of supporting tubes adapted to project stationarily, and in a forward direction, from the main frame of such an embossing machine and beneath opposite side edges of the keyboard thereof, downwardly extended members carried by the projecting portions of said tubes and having parallel front and rear supporting bars disposed thereon in spaced relation and transversely with respect to said tubes for supporting engagement with such a code reading and translating unit, a carrier extended across and in front of the forward ends of said tubes and having stub shafts fixed thereto and extended slidably into the forward ends of said tubes, means for releasably securing said carrier in a forward position, a horizontal pivot shaft mounted in a suspended relation on said carrier for movement between a lower operating position and an upper retracted position, means for securing said pivot shaft in either of said positions, a plurality of transmitting levers and a plurality of hook levers pivoted at their forward ends on said pivot shaft and extended rearwardly over said front supporting bar, said hook levers having hook elements extended downwardly and then forwardly beneath and in spaced relation to said front supporting bar, said levers being arranged in pairs each having one transmitting lever and one hook lever, means affording a yielding lost motion connection of limited range between the levers of each pair, and a plurality of transmitting links pivotally connected at their lower ends to the rear ends of the respective transmitting levers and having reversely bent hooks at their other ends for operative engagement with the respective keys of such a keyboard.

JOHN H. GRUVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,106,397 McTammany Aug. 11, 1914 1,292,944 Wright Jan. 28, 1919 1,688,364 Thompson Oct. 23, 1928 1,930,058 McCain Oct. 10, 1933 

